Curley's Bagels

With subway-tile walls, a chalkboard menu, and very Russ & Daughters display, Curley’s Bagels has the kind of neo-vintage aesthetic that, to us, suggests two things. First, there’s a good chance we’ll like the food here. Two, it likely won’t be cheap.

The Sunnyside bagel shop boasts a selection of uniquely flavored varieties, all of which are enjoyable, including zesty za’atar and slightly smoky aleppo pepper. The bagels are on the small side, and at $2 they’re also a little on the expensive side, but you won’t find comparable, fresh-baked bagels in the area.

Creative accouterments aside, the bread itself is pretty standard sourdough. But Sunnysiders craving a hearty breakfast are well-served by the sandwich offerings, which include a fried mortadella, egg and cheese, as well as a splurgy lox bagel with tobiko. There’s no indoor seating, but you can enjoy a weekend morning nosh at the benches outside, or the small park across the street.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick

Rosemary Salt Bagel

The non-standard flavors at Curley’s are universally nosh-worthy, but the rosemary salt stands out. Just the herby smell from within the paper bag is incredible. Get at least one of these, toasted and slathered in Kerrygold—the house butter of choice.

photo credit: Gene Aquino

The Morty Mort

Our favorite item here, this fried mortadella, egg, and provolone sandwich might sound like a salt bomb, but it’s perfectly balanced with a bright, tart pepperoncini aioli and the sharp yet creamy dijonnaise. Order it on a sesame bagel (you can ask for mixed black and white seeds, which is fun) for a breakfast muffuletta feeling.

photo credit: Gene Aquino

Lox Royale

Outside of the pleasantly salty hit from that tobiko, they’re not reinventing the wheel here—the Lox Royale comes with smoked salmon, scallion cream cheese, pickled red onions, capers, dill, and microgreens—but every individual component is fresh and delicious, and each is deployed in an ideal ratio. You can get it open-face or closed, and if you woke up on the bougie side of the bed this morning, this is your order.

photo credit: Gene Aquino

The Mak

A sausage (choose between two sweet or spicy patties), egg, and cheese with gochujang aioli and a hash brown. The tingly sauce deftly cuts through the fat of a SEC, but this hash brown is a little too far over onto the greasy side.